Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-01
WINFIELD SCOTT.
AN OLD LITTER OF his CONCERNING
SECESSION.
A Leaf from the History OF the Past, BE
calling South Carolina
Eullifegtion.

The following letter. curious to read
at the present day and in the light of
events since 1869. was written the year
the State OF South Carolina passed her
notification act. II was given Gov
cmor Lee hy Senator Wade Hampton
upon the httcr's recent visit here, anl
Istublished BOW, it is believed, for the
Gist time:
SAvhNHAH, December Is. 1892.
As 90 TIE "spcculations at Colum-
bia relative to the object Of my visit
to Charleston, eat this moment" ] can
only say that am or that very tour,
and about the very time mentioned by
me when / last bad the pleasure of see
ing yOu. On what evil days we bay,
falln. my good friend, when 50 com
monUlace an event gives Use TO con-
lecture or speculation. ! can truly
assure YOU that no one has felt more
wrctched than your humble cOrrcspou-
dent since an unhappy controversy be-
gan 10 assume serious aspect. | have
always entertained Il high admiration
for the history and character of South
Carolina, and accident or good
foiune has thrown me into intimacy
and even friendship with almost
every leader o. the two parties which
DOW divide and agitate the State.
Would to God they were again united
as during the late war, when her Fede-
Ialists wed with her Republicans in the
csocr of patriotism and glory. and
when the Legislature came powerfully
To- tie old Of the Union. Well, the ma
!Ui'y among you have taken a stand,
aId those days of general harmony
may ncvcrrcturn. Whatan awful posi-
uou for South Carolina as well rs for
Tie other States. I cannot follow ont
tie long, dark shades Of the picture
that presents itself 10 my fears. 1 will
hope, nevertheless, for the best The
Presidents message brings healing on
it, wings. Congress may soon begin to
act on his Just, wise, and patriotic re-
concentrations. BY the {th Of March.
1897. tie tariff may be reduced to the
revenue standard, the means and the
protest for cXtrayagant expenditures
on WtCIpm Improvements abatod.
and the Constitution of the United
States restored to its specified
and legitimate object But / turn
NY eyes back and Good God
What 90 l behold? Impatient
South Carolina could not wait
she has taken q leap and is already
foreign nation. And the great names
Of Washington, Franklin, jefferson,
Green, no longer compatriots with
yours, on those Of Larens, Moultrie,
Iiuhuoy, Marion with mine.
But the evil supposing the soparl-
ton To- have been peaceable-wiil not
stop there. When one member shall
the whole arch Of Union Will
tumble in. Out Of the broken frlg
mcnts new combinations will arise. We
should probably have in the place Of
one three ConieGcracics-a northern.
southern, and western rcunion-and
Virginia (your native cou1-
.ry) not belonging to the South, bat
torn off by the general West. / turn
with horror from the picture / have
only skctched. | have said it is dark.
let but one drop of blood be spilled
lpon tie canvass and it becomes "ono
red.
rs Lands iutcr-cctod by q narrow firth
Abhor each other. Nouut.iue iuierp1eeG
Make enemies Of uauoIs, which hai clso,
llED kindred drops been mingled INFO oncf
But you and my other South Caro-
lima friends have taken your rcsDcct.ce